Upper Kirby Houston Homes For Sale & Neighborhood Guide

Upper Kirby Houston Real Estate Guide

Nestled next to Greenway Plaza and Montrose, Upper Kirby has become a destination in itself with its restaurants, cafes, lounges, and stores. The vibrant mixed-use district is one of Houston’s Most Accessible Neighborhoods.

Located a few miles southwest of Downtown Houston, Upper Kirby is home to many restaurants, offices, bars, townhomes, vintage homes and residential condo buildings. The neighborhood is highly sought after for its:

DINING AND RETAIL SPOTS: The district features more than 150 Yelp-rated retail, dining, and entertainment establishments. Most are located along Kirby Drive, Shepherd Drive, and Westheimer Road. Residents can enjoy exciting new food spots, lounges with craft beer and wine, and shopping hubs, all within minutes away from their homes.

ACCESS TO MAJOR THOROUGHFARES: The district sits along/near major streets and freeways, including Kirby Drive, Westheimer Road, Buffalo Speedway, Richmond Avenue, and W Alabama Street.

AFFORDABILITY: Upper Kirby is certainly more affordable compared to its neighbor River Oaks, Houston’s most expensive neighborhood (see The Salary I Need to Live Comfortably In 52 Top Ranked Houston Neighborhoods). The district features several home types, from vintage single-family homes to newer townhomes. Some mid- and high-rise residential condos are also available within the neighborhood.

Buying or selling a home in Upper Kirby can present some challenges. Homes near main roads and freeways may have noise or parking issues, especially near the district’s commercial areas. With no zoning laws in effect, some homes may be built backing a restaurant or bar that can get noisy on certain days. The district features some old and new properties, each with its own set of challenges – older homes may need to be updated, while new construction may have quality issues.

12 Things Upper Kirby Real Estate Buyers Should Know

As a mixed use district, Upper Kirby features a variety of housing options mixed in with retail, dining, and other commercial establishments.

Upper Kirby is made up of several smaller neighborhoods, including Alabama Place, Crawford, Richmond Place, Dearborn Place, and Ormond Place. These are established neighborhoods and tend to feature vintage homes from the 1930s.

While some of the district’s older homes have been updated and maintained, others have been torn down in favor of new construction homes and townhomes.

There are three luxury highrise condominiums in the district, including 2727 Kirby, the Regency House, and Lamar Tower. Building amenities like downtown skyline views, fitness centers, private parks, and controlled access are common.

Upper Kirby homes are zoned to the Houston ISD. The district is home to two well-respected schools: Lamar High School and St. John’s School.

“As first time buyers in the US, we are delighted to have worked with Paige. She is a delight to work with, and I would recommend anyone to enlist her help if you’re looking to either buy or sell a property.”

Townhomes have become quite popular in the area, replacing some of the district’s older single-family homes.

Prices for Upper Kirby homes for sale can start at around $500,000 and can go up to more than $1,000,000.

Upper Kirby Maps and Location

Located along the Southwest Freeway, Upper Kirby is roughly defined as the area south of Westheimer Road, west of Shepherd Drive, east of the Buffalo Speedway.

The district is made up of small residential neighborhoods, commercial establishments, and a few mid- and highrise condominiums. Restaurants, retail centers, lounges, and parks are within minutes away from Upper Kirby homes.

British red phone booths on random street corners distinguish the area from its surrounding neighborhoods. A 38-foot metal sculpture called Tree and Three Flowers can also be spotted along Kirby Drive.

Urban and unique in its own way, Upper Kirby has a lot to offer, and promises even more with new development (residential, commercial, and mixed use) under way in the neighborhood.

Upper Kirby Houston Schools

Upper Kirby homes are zoned to the Houston Independent School District (HISD).

Established in the 1920s, Houston ISD is the largest school district in the state (with 283 schools). The Texas Education Agency (TEA) gave the district a “Met Standard” rating in 2016. HISD features several International Baccalaureate (IB) World schools, including Lamar High School, Lanier Middle School, and Poe Elementary School.

Students in the area may attend the following public schools:

Elementary Schools

Poe Elementary at 5100 Hazard St. Named after the famous author, Edgar Allan Poe Elementary offers a fine arts magnet program, featuring various enrichment classes in dance, music, visual arts, Suzuki violin, and technology. It is a candidate for the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme.

River Oaks Elementary School at 2008 Kirby Dr. Founded in 1929, River Oaks Elementary is a magnet Vanguard school and is one of the HISD’s International Baccalaureate World schools (Primary Years Programme).

West University Elementary School at 3756 University Blvd. Located in the eponymous independent city, West U Elementary is considered as one of the HISD’s best elementary schools. It has a GreatSchools.org rating of 10 out of 10.

Middle Schools

Lanier Middle School at 2600 Woodhead St. Lanier is located in neighboring Neartown/Montrose and is one of the HISD’s International Baccalaureate World schools (IB Middle Years Programme). It offers a Vanguard Magnet/GT program that features classes in foreign languages, algebra, and IPC (Integrated Physics and Chemistry).

Pershing Middle School at 3838 Blue Bonnet Blvd. Located in nearby Braeswood Place, Pershing offers a neighborhood program, a Fine Arts magnet program, Pre-AP, and a Vanguard Gifted and Talented program. The school specializes in music and features enrichment classes in “unorthodox” areas.

Pin Oak Middle School at 4601 Glenmont St. Located in Bellaire, Pin Oak is an option for students zoned to Pershing. The school is “application-only” and serves a regular program together with a Foreign Languages magnet program. Known for its academic excellence, Pin Oak was named a National Blue Ribbon School as well as a TEA Exemplary school.

High Schools

Lamar High School at 3325 Westheimer Rd. Located within the Upper Kirby District, Lamar features several academic programs including an IB Diploma Programme, Advanced Placement, and a magnet program for Business Administration. As one of the HISD’s International Baccalaureate schools, it offers IB diplomas in 5 languages: French, Chinese, Italian, Russian, and Spanish.

Upper Kirby Houston Private Schools

The following are some of the more notable private schools near Upper Kirby.

St. John’s School at 2401 Claremont Ln. Forbes lists St. John’s (or SJS) as one of “America’s Elite Prep Schools.” It has long held a reputation in both academic excellence and selectivity. SJS also features a House system, in which students are sorted into six Houses.

River Oaks Academy at 10600 Richmond Ave.

Annunciation Orthodox School at 3600 Yoakum Blvd.

The Harris School at 900 Lovett Blvd.

Avalon Academy at 1616 Indiana St.

Kipling Street Academy at 1425 Kipling St.

School For Young Children at 810 Sul Ross St.

St. Stephens Episcopal School at 1800 Sul Ross St.

University of St. Thomas at 3800 Upper Kirby Blvd.

To find an updated listing of all Upper Kirby real estate zoned to any specific public school, please send an email to Paige Martin at Paige@HoustonProperties.com with the property preference and budget that you’re working with.

*Note: School zoning tends to change from year to year, information provided above are accurate but not guaranteed. Please double check by visiting the school’s website.

Continuing commercial and residential development in the district has pushed prices and demand up.

Like its neighbor Montrose, Upper Kirby home options are varied. Townhomes, luxury condos, patio homes, and elegant homes in gated communities are available in the neighborhood. Prices can vary, ranging from $500,000 to more than $3,000,000.

Due to the neighborhood’s increasing popularity, however, inventories are close to nonexistent, making the Upper Kirby real estate market quite a challenge to navigate.

(Data sourced from the Houston Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)

Upper Kirby Single-Family Home Sale Trends

Despite the surge in condos and townhomes, single-family homes remain a popular housing option in the district.

Upper Kirby single-family homes can range from new construction custom-built homes to vintage patio homes. Price, architectural style, size, and condition can vary, but the typical home Upper Kirby home can feature 3 bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths.

As demand for more housing rises in Houston’s Inner Loop, townhomes have started to replace older homes in Upper Kirby.

Lot areas range from 2,500 to more than 6,000 square feet. Living areas, on the other hand, can range from 2,000 to upwards of 4,000 square feet.

Upper Kirby homes for sale tend to sell at a premium – especially new construction homes. Prices can start at around $600,000. New construction homes can fetch much higher price tags, selling for upwards of $1,300,000.

Upper Kirby Townhomes Sale Trends

Thanks to the neighborhood’s overhaul, increased demand made way for new development in Upper Kirby. Townhomes have become quite a popular option and a number of new construction townhomes are available in the district.

Upper Kirby townhomes can feature 4 stories of living space, with 4 bedrooms and 4 and a half baths. Two car garages, high ceilings, rooftop terraces, and beautiful furnishings are common features. These properties tend to sit on smaller lots (from 1,000 to 2,500 square feet) but have relatively spacious living areas (from 2,000 to upwards of 3,000 square feet).

Some townhomes in the area are within private gated communities with amenities like controlled access and common area swimming pools.

New construction Upper Kirby townhomes for sale can start at around $500,000. Pricing depends on the properties’ age, size, location, and overall quality, and some townhomes in the district can sell for upwards of $950,000.

Upper Kirby Condo Sale Trends

Upper Kirby is home to three highrise condos: 2727 Kirby, the Regency House, and Lamar Tower. With amenities like lounges, 24/7 staff and security, pools, golf simulators, fitness centers, and private parks, these three Upper Kirby condos are quite popular among those in the market for both luxury and accessibility. (HOA fees and amenities vary from building to building.)

2120 Kipling is also located within the district. More residential condos are available in nearby neighborhoods like River Oaks, Montrose, Downtown, Galleria, and the Museum District.

Listed below are just some of the highrise condo buildings in and around Upper Kirby.

Upper Kirby TX History

Much like other neighborhoods in the area like EaDo, Montrose, and Midtown, Upper Kirby used to be populated with deteriorating commercial and residential properties. Upper Kirby, however, managed to revitalize itself in a manner similar to those three neighborhoods as well.

During the 1980s, property and business owners banded together to revitalize the area’s ailing infrastructure. The Upper Kirby District was officially formed in 1988, followed by a Management District (1997) and a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (1999).

During this period, the neighborhood’s character was developed alongside its infrastructure.

Today, Upper Kirby features a great fusion of commercial and residential areas and has become one of the Inner Loop’s hottest neighborhoods.

Fun Things To Do Near Upper Kirby

Residents in the Upper Kirby District don’t have to go very far for shopping, dining, and entertainment as the neighborhood’s location gives it easy access to the finest Houston has to offer. The Greenway Plaza is virtually the district’s next door neighbor, while Montrose’s lively nightlife and street scene and the Galleria’s posh offerings are equally accessible from Upper Kirby.

Apart from reaping the benefits of its central location, the neighborhood is also a destination in itself, with its collection of upscale boutiques, fine dining restaurants, bars, and lounges.

Upper Kirby’s restaurants offer feasts in various cuisines, making the neighborhood quite a hotspot for foodies.

The neighborhood also features lounges, bars, and pubs offering great selections of craft beers and wine.

While Upper Kirby doesn’t have much green spaces within its dense, urban landscape, the neighborhood has Levy Park in nearby Greenway Park. The park has been renovated in the past few years, and now features a dog park, a softball field and a community garden.

Listed below are just some of the best places to visit in and around Upper Kirby.

Dining

Kata Robata

The Queen Vic Pub and Kitchen

Goode Co. Seafood

Goode Co. Taqueria

Sonoma Wine Bar & Restaurant

Luna Pizzeria

Fat Bao

Paul’s Kitchen

Mia’s

Ruggles Black

Gusto Gourmet

Hobbit Cafe

Grace’s

Luigi’s Cucina Italiana

Corner Table

El Tiempo Cantina

Beck’s Prime

Retail

River Oaks Shopping Center

Rice Village

The Galleria

Weslayan Plaza

Highland Village

Shepherd Square Shopping Center

Kirby Richmond Plaza

Southwest Freeway Retail Center

“Paige is simply the best. She has worked with my husband and I for the last couple years in our quest to find the perfect first home. She was patient with us throughout the process and took time to answer all of our questions! She knows so much about the housing market so we felt very confident that we were in great hands!”

Nightlife

Groceries

Trader Joe’s

Kroger

Whole Foods Market

H-E-B

Central Market Houston

Randall’s

Parks

River Oaks Park

Levy Park

Menil Park

Memorial Park

Weir Park

Upper Kirby Houston Realtor – Paige Martin

As featured on Fox News in the Morning, Houston Business Journal and Houston Magazine, Paige Martin, a consistent Top Producing Broker-Associate and head of the Houston Properties Team, is ranked as one of the top residential real estate agents in the world.

We'll tell you the "bad' and the "ugly" about any property we show you.

Most often, we talk our clients into NOT BUYING.

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- Gretchen & Brad Richter

“We relocated to Texas from out of state 3 years ago, and Paige’s intimate knowledge of Houston neighborhoods, valuations, trends, and pitfalls was simply unmatched. We would never have been able to find our perfect home without her. She was calm and focused when everything seemed most challenging — a true professional and advocate who has become a dear friend. We are grateful to have met her!”

“Paige demonstrated all qualities you want in a realtor – knowledgeable, attentive, responsive, patient. She put us into our first dream home, and due to that experience, we’ve returned to her time and again for our other real estate needs. You will quickly realize after working with Paige that while she focuses on completing your deal, her endgame is to ensure her clients’ needs are preserved and satisfied.”

“As first time buyers in the US, we are delighted to have worked with Paige. She is a delight to work with, and I would recommend anyone to enlist her help if you’re looking to either buy or sell a property.”

“Paige is simply the best. She was patient with us throughout the process and took time to answer all of our questions! She knows so much about the housing market so we felt very confident that we were in great hands!”

“Paige has helped my wife and I twice now. I couldn’t think of a better person to have in your corner when buying or selling! She guided us through the process, and made it seem so easy that selling/buying was fun! Paige is a great person, very responsive, and great at what she does. I recommend Paige to all my friends and co-workers. If you are buying or selling in the area Paige covers, give her a call. You won’t regret it!”

“Paige is dedicated, thorough and caring to where you feel you’re their only client. Their best asset is their honesty, based on experience and data. We had a great time buying our first home largely because of them. We would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone.”

“Paige Martin is the best Realtor. She is highly experienced and very knowledgeable. She made our buying experience an enjoyable one, not only for us, but for our daughter, son-in-law and several of our friends. We have bought and sold many houses, and Paige has been the best realtor we have ever worked with. We highly recommend her.”

“I really enjoyed working with Paige on the sale of my townhome. The HAR listing was perfect and went up quickly and the sale was closed within 30 days. I definitely recommend Paige for any real estate transaction.”

Disclaimer

Statistics and data is from the most recent recent available period, as of the time of this writing. No representations or warranties, either expressed or implied, are made to the accuracy of the information herein, or with respect to suitability, usability, feasibility, merchantability or condition of any property described herein. There is no official relationship between this website, the owner, or lessee/real estate agent and any properties described on this website (including, but not limited to owners, management companies, HOAs or associations) or visa versa. Data is presented for informational purposes only and does not represent a listing of a building, property or entity. All dimensions are approximate. If you are provided with a broker price opinion, comparative market analysis, or estimated worth or sale price then this represents an estimated sale price for this property. It is not the same as the opinion of value in an appraisal developed by a licensed appraiser under the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.